Afluente Ribeira do Inferno (Capulla)

Normal in January 2019; weak (seasonal) in June 2019; some intensity in December 2021; low in October 2022; OK in June 2023; normal-low in June 2025; low in July 2025; medium to high in February 2026.

The big waterfall (C111, R11 to R13). The 111 m drop is a multi-pitch. The 50 m R11 pitch is prone to rope-retrieval problems; in June 2019 the R11 ring was replaced with a double ring to help retrieval. Visual contact is lost between R11 and R12, so radios are advisable. R13 was tightened in October 2022, but since November 2022 a hanger on the last rebelay of the big waterfall has been loose, with a seized nut that cannot be tightened: the only real fix is a new hole. In June 2025 the moving hangers at the last anchor of the 110 m rappel were re-tightened; the final installations carry fixed rope in poor condition, so rig your own rope there. In July 2025 the R11 anchors (parabolts slightly displaced) were re-tightened and all other anchors were in good order. Do not skip any of the multi-pitch anchors: R5 (whose rebelay is not shown on the route diagram), R12 and R13. Use all the anchors on the big waterfall to avoid rope friction; at the second anchor you need to swing a little to the right out of the flow, and the next anchor is not shiny and is easy to miss.

Other anchors. R5 has a rebelay, not shown on the route diagram, that avoids heavy rope rub if the pitch is rappelled directly; the anchor area was cleaned in June 2023. Since February 2026 a hanger has been missing at R5. The approach handline (MC) from the tree to R4 has been due for replacement since December 2021, and R7 needed tightening at that time. The maillon on one handline was replaced in November 2022, its rope still being good. Doubling the handline at the top of the big waterfall greatly eases rope recovery.

Hazards and conditions. After the big rappel the downclimbs are cluttered with large fallen trees (the case since at least 2022 and still so in 2025). A major flood preceded February 2026: the rope anchors at the end of the canyon show heavy wear, countless trees have fallen and there have been several landslides, mainly after C111, making progression considerably harder. The whole Ginjas basin shows signs of a huge water discharge, with rock scouring and loss of vegetation.

From the dirt road the approach takes about 1 h 30 min; with a single car (no shuttle), walking slowly, allow about 2 h 35 min for the approach and a minimum of 1 h for the return. The route passes through seemingly endless tunnels that are uncomfortable for tall people: bring a torch. Two people moving efficiently can descend the canyon in about 2 h.